Exxon Valdez

March 24, 2014 3:37 PM

Photo: Jack Smith/ASSOCIATED PRESS

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In April 1989, the grounded tanker Exxon Valdez (left), unloads oil onto a smaller tanker as efforts to re-float the ship continue on Prince William Sound, 25 miles from Valdez, Alaska. The 987-foot tanker, carrying 53 million gallons of crude, struck Bligh Reef at 12:04 a.m. on March 24, 1989, and within hours unleashed an estimated 10.8 million gallons of thick, toxic crude oil into the water. Storms and currents then smeared it over 1,300 miles of shoreline. Twenty five years later, the region, its people and its wildfire are still recovering. less

In April 1989, the grounded tanker Exxon Valdez (left), unloads oil onto a smaller tanker as efforts to re-float the ship continue on Prince William Sound, 25 miles from Valdez, Alaska. The 987-foot tanker, ... more

In April 1989, crude oil from the tanker Exxon Valdez (top) swirls on the surface of Alaska's Prince William Sound near Naked Island. The 987-foot tanker, carrying 53 million gallons of crude, struck Bligh Reef at 12:04 a.m. on March 24, 1989, and within hours unleashed an estimated 10.8 million gallons of thick, toxic crude oil into the water. Storms and currents then smeared it over 1,300 miles of shoreline. Twenty five years later, the region, its people and its wildfire are still recovering. less

In April 1989, crude oil from the tanker Exxon Valdez (top) swirls on the surface of Alaska's Prince William Sound near Naked Island. The 987-foot tanker, carrying 53 million gallons of crude, struck Bligh Reef ... more

In April 1989, a local fisherman inspects a dead California gray whale on the northern shore of Latouche Island, Alaska. The whale was found over the weekend in the oil-contaminated waters of Prince William Sound. Wildlife experts later determined that the whale had died before the Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred on March 24. Nearly 25 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska, some damage heals, some effects linger in Prince William Sound. less

In April 1989, a local fisherman inspects a dead California gray whale on the northern shore of Latouche Island, Alaska. The whale was found over the weekend in the oil-contaminated waters of Prince William ... more

Photo: John Gaps III, AP

In April 1989, a local fisherman inspects a dead California gray... Photo-6045796.82309 - Houston Chronicle

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In April 1989, workers try to remove globs of oil from Baked Island in Prince William Sound, Alaska. A massive oil slick covers Prince William Sound stretching over 100 miles as the result of the tanker Exxon Valdez running aground March 24, 1989, spilling more than 10-million gallons of oil. Nearly 25 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska, some damage heals, some effects linger in Prince William Sound. less

In April 1989, workers try to remove globs of oil from Baked Island in Prince William Sound, Alaska. A massive oil slick covers Prince William Sound stretching over 100 miles as the result of the tanker Exxon ... more

In April 1989, a rescued sea otter is restrained and washed by workers at a local animal facility after five of the oil covered mammals were captured in the fouled waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska. The list of animals injured and killed from the spill of the oil tanker Exxon Valdez includes sea otters, deer, eagles, owls and a host of other water fowl gathered up by rescue workers. Nearly 25 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska, some damage heals, some effects linger in Prince William Sound. less

In April 1989, a rescued sea otter is restrained and washed by workers at a local animal facility after five of the oil covered mammals were captured in the fouled waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska. The ... more

Photo: JOHN GAPS III, AP

In April 1989, a rescued sea otter is restrained and washed by... Photo-6045798.82309 - Houston Chronicle

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In April 1989, a sea otter swims in Valdez harbor in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Oil spilled from the Exxon Valdez extends farther into Alaska tidal waters than previously thought and likely is causing long-term harm to wildlife, according to a paper published Tuesday May 16, 2006. The study by National Marine Fisheries Service researchers conclude that oil remains in lower intertidal areas where predators such as sea otters and ducks may encounter it while disturbing sediment in search of prey. Nearly 25 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska, some damage heals, some effects linger in Prince William Sound. less

In April 1989, a sea otter swims in Valdez harbor in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Oil spilled from the Exxon Valdez extends farther into Alaska tidal waters than previously thought and likely is causing ... more

In April 1989, an oil soaked bird is examined on an island in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Exxon Mobil Corp. was ordered Monday, June 15, 2009 to pay about $500 million in interest on punitive damages for the Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska, nearly doubling the payout to Alaska Natives, fishermen, business owners and others harmed by the 1989 disaster. The ruling was issued by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. Nearly 25 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska, some damage heals, some effects linger in Prince William Sound. less

In April 1989, an oil soaked bird is examined on an island in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Exxon Mobil Corp. was ordered Monday, June 15, 2009 to pay about $500 million in interest on punitive damages for the ... more

Photo: Jack Smith, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In April 1989, an oil soaked bird is examined on an island in... Photo-6045800.82309 - Houston Chronicle

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FILE - In this April 21, 1989, file photo, a skimmer is used for shoreline oil in Naked Island, Alaska. It collects the oil from off the water surface. The conveyor belt moves the oil onto a barge for storage. Nearly 25 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska, some damage heals, some effects linger in Prince William Sound. (AP Photo/Rob Stapleton, File) less

FILE - In this April 21, 1989, file photo, a skimmer is used for shoreline oil in Naked Island, Alaska. It collects the oil from off the water surface. The conveyor belt moves the oil onto a barge for storage. ... more

Photo: AP

FILE - In this April 21, 1989, file photo, a skimmer is used for... Photo-6045801.82309 - Houston Chronicle

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The terminus of the 800-mile trans-Alaska oil pipeline in Valdez, Alaska is shown in February 2014. The Exxon Valdez loaded up at the terminus and then ran aground near Bligh Reef in March 1989, spilling nearly 11 million gallons of crude in Prince William Sound. less

The terminus of the 800-mile trans-Alaska oil pipeline in Valdez, Alaska is shown in February 2014. The Exxon Valdez loaded up at the terminus and then ran aground near Bligh Reef in March 1989, spilling nearly ... more

In April 1989, a worker makes his way across the polluted shore of Block Island, Alaska, as efforts are underway to test techniques to clean up the oil spill of the tanker Exxon Valdez in Prince William Sound. The worker periodically uses the bucket to scoop up oil washing back onto shore from the containment booms. Nearly 25 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska, some damage heals, some effects linger in Prince William Sound. less

In April 1989, a worker makes his way across the polluted shore of Block Island, Alaska, as efforts are underway to test techniques to clean up the oil spill of the tanker Exxon Valdez in Prince William Sound. ... more

Photo: John Gaps III, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In April 1989, a worker makes his way across the polluted shore of... Photo-6045803.82309 - Houston Chronicle

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In April 1989, crews use high pressured hoses to blast the rocks on this beach front on Naked Island, Alaska. This is one of only two beaches that are being worked on, of the 58 beaches in the Prince William Sound. On March 24, the crude oil tanker Exxon Valdez grounded on a reef and spilled nearly 11 million gallons of oil in the waters. Nearly 25 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska, some damage heals, some effects linger in Prince William Sound. less

In April 1989, crews use high pressured hoses to blast the rocks on this beach front on Naked Island, Alaska. This is one of only two beaches that are being worked on, of the 58 beaches in the Prince William ... more

Photo: Rob Stapleton, AP

In April 1989, crews use high pressured hoses to blast the rocks on... Photo-6045804.82309 - Houston Chronicle

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In December 2009, the tug Pathfinder is surrounded by a spill containment boom, in Prince William Sound, Alaska. It is the left of the two boats at the bottom right of photo. The Pathfinder, a 136-foot tug scouting for ice along Prince William Sound's oil shipping lanes near Valdez, Alaska, grounded on Bligh Reef. Something is holding down the herring population of Alaska's Prince William Sound. Marine scientists are tailing a possible suspect: humpback whales. Humpbacks are thriving in the waters fouled 21 years ago by the Exxon Valdez oil spill. At the time, the herring population crashed, but should have rebounded by now. Nearly 25 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska, some damage heals, some effects linger in Prince William Sound. less

In December 2009, the tug Pathfinder is surrounded by a spill containment boom, in Prince William Sound, Alaska. It is the left of the two boats at the bottom right of photo. The Pathfinder, a 136-foot tug ... more

Photo: Marc Lester, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In December 2009, the tug Pathfinder is surrounded by a spill... Photo-6045805.82309 - Houston Chronicle

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A sea otter swims in the bay near the ferry dock in Valdez, Alaska. The U.S. Geological Survey report released Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, concludes sea otters in Alaska's Prince William Sound have recovered to levels seen before the Exxon Valdez oil spill nearly 25 years ago. less

A sea otter swims in the bay near the ferry dock in Valdez, Alaska. The U.S. Geological Survey report released Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, concludes sea otters in Alaska's Prince William Sound have recovered to ... more

Photo: Mark Thiessen, ASSOCIATED PRESS

A sea otter swims in the bay near the ferry dock in Valdez, Alaska.... Photo-6045807.82309 - Houston Chronicle

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In April 1989, a clean-up worker rakes through crude oil, contained by floating booms off the waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska. The oil, contained here in Snug Harbor off Knight Island, was later sucked off the water by a U.S. Coast Guard skimmer. Oil from the tanker Exxon Valdez continues to foul the waters of southern Alaska. Nearly 25 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska, some damage heals, some effects linger in Prince William Sound. less

In April 1989, a clean-up worker rakes through crude oil, contained by floating booms off the waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska. The oil, contained here in Snug Harbor off Knight Island, was later sucked ... more

Robert J. Kopchak stands by a sign in front of the Fisherman's Union Hall in Cordova, Alaska. Kopchak lost a quarter of his earnings when the lucrative Pacific herring fishery crashed in the 1990s after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska's Prince William Sound. Nearly 25 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska, some damage heals, some effects linger in Prince William Sound. less

Robert J. Kopchak stands by a sign in front of the Fisherman's Union Hall in Cordova, Alaska. Kopchak lost a quarter of his earnings when the lucrative Pacific herring fishery crashed in the 1990s after the ... more

Photo: Obadiah Kopchak, AP

Robert J. Kopchak stands by a sign in front of the Fisherman's... Photo-6045809.82309 - Houston Chronicle

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In February 2014, a sign hangs outside the small boat harbor in Valdez, Alaska. When the Exxon Valdez ran aground in March 1989, spilling nearly 11 million gallons of crude in Prince William Sound, many fisheries were hurt by the disaster and many fishermen lost boats or homes. less

In February 2014, a sign hangs outside the small boat harbor in Valdez, Alaska. When the Exxon Valdez ran aground in March 1989, spilling nearly 11 million gallons of crude in Prince William Sound, many ... more

Photo: Mark Thiessen, AP

In February 2014, a sign hangs outside the small boat harbor in... Photo-6045810.82309 - Houston Chronicle

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In February 2014, a sea otter floats in the bay near the ferry dock in Valdez, Alaska. The U.S. Geological Survey report released Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, concludes sea otters in Alaska's Prince William Sound have recovered to levels seen before the Exxon Valdez oil spill nearly 25 years ago. less

In February 2014, a sea otter floats in the bay near the ferry dock in Valdez, Alaska. The U.S. Geological Survey report released Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, concludes sea otters in Alaska's Prince William Sound ... more

Photo: Mark Thiessen, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In February 2014, a sea otter floats in the bay near the ferry dock... Photo-6045811.82309 - Houston Chronicle

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Fisherman Bernie Culbertson poses in Valdez, Alaska in February 2014. Culbertson was preparing to fish cod when the Exxon Valdez ran aground in March 1989. The spill changed life for many in Valdez, and he said the bottom fell out of the price for fish. Many fishermen lost boats or their homes. less

Fisherman Bernie Culbertson poses in Valdez, Alaska in February 2014. Culbertson was preparing to fish cod when the Exxon Valdez ran aground in March 1989. The spill changed life for many in Valdez, and he said ... more

Mark Swanson, director of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council in Valdez, Alaska, says government and industry officials failed to keep promises that oil could be shipped safely ahead of the March 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. But since then, laws have been passed to require double-hulled tankers, which are escorted by two escort tugs to the Gulf of Alaska Two Coast Guard watchers monitor ship positions, as does radar. There's also radar monitoring icebergs. less

Mark Swanson, director of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council in Valdez, Alaska, says government and industry officials failed to keep promises that oil could be shipped safely ahead of ... more